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A's top Rangers 9-8 to start key AL West series

Yoenis Cespedes hit a three-run homer in the first inning, then threw out Alex Rios to end a big Texas comeback in the eighth as the Athletics survived a shaky night from the bullpen to beat the Rangers.

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes gave Oakland an early lead with his bat. He prevented what could have been a huge collapse with his arm.

Cespedes hit a three-run homer in the first inning, then threw out Alex Rios at third base to end a big Texas comeback in the eighth as the Athletics survived a shaky night from the bullpen to extend their AL West lead with a 9-8 victory over the Rangers on Friday night.

The Rangers trailed 9-2 when Elvis Andrus and Rios had two-run singles as part of six-run inning to close within one.

Adrian Beltre's third hit was a single to Cespedes in left field, and the Cuban star ended the threat by throwing out Rios trying to go from first to third, where the tag from Josh Donaldson arrived just about the same time as Rios' foot.

"It was a bang-bang play," Donaldson said. "Cespedes made a perfect throw and I was able to put a tag on it, and it ended up as an out."

Rios said he was certain he would make it to third with the play happening in front of him.

"And actually, I was correct," said Rios, who was ejected by Andy Fletcher for angrily arguing the call. "I believe I was safe on that call."

The A's handed the Rangers their fourth straight loss and moved 4½ games ahead of Texas in the opener of the final series of the regular season between the past two AL West champions.

Cespedes' 23rd homer came off Derek Holland (9-9), who is winless in a career-high seven straight starts.

Dan Straily (10-7) allowed two hits in 5 2-3 innings to win his fourth straight start and beat Texas for the second time in 11 days.

The right-hander might have stayed around longer if he hadn't struggled with four walks and a hit batter. The bullpen was wild, too, and it almost cost the A's the game.

Brett Anderson walked Beltre and A.J. Pierzynski to start the eighth, and Ron Cook later gave Ian Kinsler a free pass with the bases loaded for Oakland's eighth walk.

Andrus followed with a single to right field, and Rios singled to center after a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position.

The call against Rios set off several Rangers. First-base umpire Joe West tossed Texas pitcher Matt Garza for complaining from the dugout in the top of the ninth.

"At that part of the game there were a lot of emotions," Rios said. "We're fired up and to have that rally killed like that, it's disappointing."

Sept. 13: Texas Rangers right fielder Alex Rios is held by third base coach Gary Pettis as he argues with third base umpire Andy Fletcher after being called out. Fletcher ejected Rios.
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 13: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Matt Garza argues with the home plate umpire after being thrown out of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark.
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 17: Tigers manager Jim Leyland, left, was ejected when a call went against Detroit. Leyland directed his tirade at first base umpire Bob Davidson, right, and had to be restrained by second base umpire John Hirschbeck, center.
Duane Burleson, AP

Aug. 10: Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is ejected from the game by second base umpire Adrian Johnson after arguing a call when Johnson called Alex Presley out in a double play by Troy Tulowitzki in the seventh inning.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Red Sox DH David Ortiz, right, had to be restrained by manager John Farrell, center, and bench coach Torey Lovullo after being ejected on July 27 in Baltimore. Ortiz also took out his frustration on a dugout phone, shattering it to pieces with a bat.
Joy R. Absalon, USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum argues with home plate umpire Dana DeMuth after being thrown out of the third inning of the the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 23.
Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles exchanges words after a strikeout call by home plate umpire Will Little in the fifth inning. Little then ejected Machado from the game.
Jonathan Ernst, Getty Images

Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher throws Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona out of the game in the eighth inning during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 8 in Detroit.
Leon Halip, Getty Images

Mets manager Terry Collins (left) is ejected from the game by second base umpire Adrian Johnson (right) after the sixth inning of a game against the Yankees at Citi Field.
Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

Manager Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim argues with plate umpire Marty Foster (Center) and Tim Welke after a third strike on Jeff Francoeur of the Kansas City Royals was overturned to a foul ball in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Sciosia was ejected from the game.
Ed Zurga, Getty Images

Manager Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants argues with umpire Alfonso Marquez after Marco Scutaro was called out in the eighth inning at AT,T Park in San Francisco, Calif. Bochy was ejected.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Chris Getz of the Kansas City Royals and manager Ned Yost of the Kansas City Royals argue with second base umpire Marty Foster after Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was called safe on a steal in Kansas City, Mo. Getz was ejected.
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Home plate umpire John Tumpane ejects Kurt Suzuki of the Washington Nationals after Suzuki struck out looking in the ninth inning of the Nationals 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.
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Umpire Tim Timmons tells Pirates starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez he has been ejected after hitting St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig with a pitch during the game at Busch Stadium.
Scott Rovak, USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons reacts as home plate umpire Mike DiMuro ejects him during an argument over a strikeout call against Toronto's Brett Lawrie in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore.
Patrick Semansky, AP

Sean Doolittle, who gave up Beltre's hit in the eighth, allowed a double to Robinson Chirinos with two outs in the ninth but ended up striking out the side, getting Jurickson Profar looking for his second save in seven chances.

"We usually lock those games down, but we didn't," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "We put ourselves in a position not to win, but we didn't lose."

Donaldson homered and drove in three runs, and Brandon Moss hit his 27th for Oakland. Derek Norris had three hits.

Holland's shortest outing of the season ended with no outs in the fourth after consecutive singles from Norris and Kurt Suzuki. The left-hander has been stuck on nine wins since Aug. 4 and is 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA in three starts in September.

Holland gave up eight hits and six runs in three innings in his second loss to the A's in 10 days.

The Rangers dropped to 2-9 in September and fell a game behind Tampa Bay for the AL wild-card lead.

Straily walked his first two batters with a 3-0 lead, and Kinsler and Andrus both scored to get Texas within 3-2. But the 24-year-old right-hander bounced back with five strong innings before losing his control again in the sixth.

"Really what it came down to, we were in a fight and I wasn't bringing it," Straily said. "I was just missing. Instead of being super-aggressive, I was trying to hit spots."

Beltre had both hits off Straily, driving in Kinsler with a single in the first before Pierzynski brought home Andrus on a sacrifice fly. Beltre had an infield hit in the sixth, and Straily didn't make it out of the inning after hitting Pierzynski with a pitch and walking Jim Adduci.

NOTES: Every starter in the Oakland lineup had at least one hit and the A's finished with 14 hits, just two nights after getting a season-high 22 in an 18-3 win over Minnesota.